The goal of the new medical education program launched by the Veteran Affairs is to help expand health care access to Veterans that reside in underserved communities.

According to a press release by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), the department has initiated a pilot program for graduate medical education. The program aims to increase healthcare accessibility for Veterans residing in rural, tribal, and underserved areas. The initiative will fund salaries and benefits of at least 100 physician residents who will rotate through non-VA health care facilities. These include facilities operated by Indian tribes, tribal organizations, the Indian Health Service, the Department of Defense, and federally-qualified health centers. Besides funding residents' salaries, VA will also cater for new residency programs regardless of whether they are based in VA facilities or not. Interested healthcare facilities will host resident rotations starting Jul. 2025.

"This program will place physician residents in rural and underserved communities across America, where they’re needed most," said Chief Academic Affiliations Officer, Dr. Marjorie Bowman. "For Veterans in those areas, this program will make it easier to access the health care they need and deserve."

The Department of Veterans Affairs focuses on educating and training health professionals to enhance timely access to adequate care for Veterans within its healthcare system. Over the past 75 years, VA has partnered with U.S academic institutions to conduct health professions education and training. It presently operates four teaching missions that provide clinical learning experience necessary for nurturing future generations of healthcare professionals. These programs are medical and dental education, nursing education, associated health education and advanced fellowships.